Incandescent electrical illumination



' (No Model.)

. J. IRWIN.

INGANDESOENT ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATION. No 261,351. Patented Ju1y18, 1882.

. \A/itTlEEEEE 'hwwim I ,awqm J gam v I v 21 wk UNITED STATES PATENTOFFI E.

JOHN H. IR'WIN, OF MORTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

,, INCANDESCENT ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,351; dated July 18,1882.

Application filed December 28, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. IRWIN, ofMorton, in the county of Delawareand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Incandescent Electrical Illumination, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference markedthereon.

My invention relates especially to the-application of small or minuteincandescent electric lamps to the formation of objects either inoutline or skeleton, and may aptly be termed the art of forming symbolsor figures from electrically-illuminated vacuous cells, and has for itsobject the production'of new and useful devices which may be employedfor illuminating and decorating apartments, buildings, 850.; and itconsists essentially in employing small incandescent electric lamps orvacuous cells partaking in appearance of the character of beads, theseluminous beads being placed in such positions as when the inclosedfilament of carbon is incandescent to form certain symbols, figures,&c.; and my invention involves certain novel and useful combinations orarrangements of parts and peculiarities of construction and operation,all of which will be hereinafter first fully described, and then pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a skeleton chandelierformed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view ofone of the lamps employed by me and an illustration of one method ofaffixing the lamps in place, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of theconductors supporting the lamp. Fig. 4 shows one mode employed by me forsupporting the lamps and forming the electrical connection. Fig. 5 is aplan View of a circle composing an electric circuit, showing the methodemployed for arranging the lamps therein.

Like letters of reference, wherever they occur, indicate correspondingparts in all the figures.

The lamps A employed for forming the various devices are vacuous cellsor bulbs made small, the filamentof carbon inclosed therein beingproportionately delicate and diminutive, one of such lamps having aboutone-fourth to one-sixteenth the illuminating power of the ordinaryincandescent electric lamp. By distributing the light over a largeilluminated surface it is, as a whole, softened and diffused, wherebythe resultant effect is made extremely pleasing, and disagreeabledazzling of the eye by concentrated incandescence is obviated. The bulbor cell of the lamps A may be formed of white or colored glass, and byemploying various colors a great diversity of appearance may be giventhe illuminated device.

In forming the device shown in Fig. 1 the conducting-wires B, leadingfrom the electric generator, may be carried down a central support, 0,either upon the interior or exterior thereof, as desired, and may bearranged in a double spiral, as shown. In this construction it will beseen that the double spiral'gradually enlarges from the extremity ofsupport G, and then contracting to a point below; but of course thearrangement and construction may be varied according to the desire andskill of the artisan forming the device. At suitable points between thespirals are located short pieces of non-conducting material, D, holdingthe conductors firmly in place and rendering connection with the lampseasy of accomplishment. The spiral wires are insulated from each otherby means of the non-conducting material D placed therebetween. Each ofthe vacnous cells A contains a filament of carbon, having conductors toeach extremity of thecell. Saidconductorsmayextendsufficiently beyondthe lamp to permit the formation of electrical connection with the lineby twisting; or they may be bent down against the outside of the bulb.In the latter case the conductingwires may be provided with indentationsor depressions E therein or caps or grasping devices may be aflixedthereto opposite to each other and at suitable distances apart. Theindentations, caps, or grasping devices correspond in shape to theextremities of the lamps, and by slightly pressing the conductors apart,the samebeing constructed elastic for this purpose, each lamp may beplaced securely in position and held in such a manner as to complete therequired electrical connection. By this means lamps may be easilychanged or removed without materially affecting those remaining incircuit.

In the device shown in Fig. 1 the lamps are arranged in multiple are;but it is obvious that any. method of connecting up may be employed butthe advantages are plainly in favor of the method of arrangementindicated.

The number of outlines, figures, symbols, &c., which may be formed ispractically unlimited, those given being amply suilicient to illustratethe object of my invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what 1 claim as new therein,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Illuminated signals, symbols, designs, or figures composed ofelectrical conductors bent or formed into the required shapes and havingnumerous electrical vacuous cells removably attached or connectedthereto, substantially as described.

2. The conductors ofan electric circuitformed of suitable material,running parallel to each other, said conductors having cavities ordepressions therein or grasping devices allixcd thereto, locatedsubstantially opposite to each other, as set forth, and adapted andarranged to hold incandescent electric lamps or vacuous cells formingelectric connection with said lamps, substantially as shown anddescribed. 3. Thecombination, with electric conductors running parallelto each other and having suitable devices thereon for graspingthelamps,of the vacuous cells or incandescent electric lamps so constructed as tofit into sz'tid grasping devices and form electric connection with theline, substantially as shown and described. In testimony that I claimthe foregoing I have hereunto set m y hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN H. IRWIN. \Vitnesses:

F. \V. HANAFURD, A. M. PIERCE.

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